Everything You Need to Know About Unfair Treatment in the Workplace
Unfair treatment in the workplace should not be tolerated anywhere, and it is important for individuals who may be subject to this kind of treatment to understand the laws in place to protect them. Here’s how to deal with unfair treatment in the workplace.
Unfair treatment in the workplace may be defined in a multitude of ways, and can affect any business, regardless of its size. Behaviors that can be deemed as unfair treatment can include speaking offensively to another employee in person or via email, spreading rumors about a coworker, making fun of a fellow employee, and/or outright discrimination toward another person. None of these behaviors, and any others that can offend another employee in a company, are inappropriate and can have a severe, negative impact on the company and its employees on the whole.
What laws can protect employees who are facing unfair treatment at work?
There are many U.S. laws in place to protect employees from unfair treatment and better create a safe and supportive work environment. Companies also have human resources (HR) departments in place to help mitigate matters of unfair treatment, harassment, or other prohibited behaviors in the workplace to cultivate an equal-opportunity work environment.
Principle laws that cover unfair treatment in the workplace include:
- The Equality Act 2010, which was revised in the US in 2019. Both documents prohibit discrimination of any kind in the workplace.
- Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating against any employee who has a disability, and makes note of the right that people have to have disability-friendly workplaces.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act prevents employees from being discriminated in the hiring/promotional process and in the workplace in general due to their numerical age.
Related: Types of Workplace Discrimination in California
How can employees create a positive work culture?
Each business can also implement policies to ensure a positive work environment. These policies can be enforced by HR, along with all other levels of employees within the company. Creating an uplifting work culture will benefit everyone, perhaps in terms of their morale, quality of their communication, and productivity. The task to maintain a positive work culture can be a responsibility assumed by everyone in the company. Action plans to carry out this mission can take place in company-wide meetings and training sessions. Hiring a consulting company or purchasing an online sensitivity training program can also help in this process. A comprehensive review or a strategic refresh of the employee manual to reflect these new action items may also benefit the workplace climate.
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If you have any more questions on how to deal with unfair treatment in the workplace, contact us. Get your free consultation with one of our California Employment Discrimination Attorneys today! We won’t charge you a dime unless you win your case.